Guide to Using Pellet Stoves

Those of us who live in in an area where we have to heat our homes for more than half the year have to look for ways and means to heat our homes that cost us the least amount of money. That was initially our reason for switching to a pellet stove, several years ago.

We had started making lifestyle changes, in which we started to things and acting in such a way that was more environmentally friendly. The home that we had bought was an old house that had an oil furnace, and it smelled when the thermostat kicked the heat on. Because of this, one of the first upgrades we put into the home was a new source of heat.

We had a fireplace in the house that passed inspection, so we were able to place a pellet stove fireplace insert into it without having to do other structural changes. Though the consumer can get a freestanding pellet stove, get the proper piping and have in installed by a contractor, and have a beautiful, and efficient source of heat.

Pellet stoves are really quite pretty, and they give the ambiance of a log fire. In fact, you almost have to do a double-take to make sure it is pellets burning and not logs. The pellets give it away though. When the pellets drop and ignite, the sparks they throw appear like fire-flies dancing in the background.

Not only are pellet stoves a pretty, and highly efficient source of heat; the use of a pellet stove is quite ecologically friendly since it is about the cleanest of all solid fuel burning sources of heat.

The source of heat for the pellet stoves are ecologically friendly as well. Most pellets are made from recycled wood by-products such as paper and cardboard, wood chips, bark and sawdust. Also you can find some pellets that are made from agricultural crop waste.

One thing that need to be considered though, before purchasing and installing a pellet stove. When there is no electricity, there is no heat. The blower and the motor that drops the pellets work on electricity. When the electricity is off for whatever reason, as a safety feature the stove kicks off. Luckily, where we live in Oregon, it might happen once or twice a year; and usually doesn't happen at all.

Pellets for the pellet stove are not very expensive, but if you are an adventurous soul; you might consider making your own pellets. There are machines that you can buy that allow you to do this. We always bought ours though. I guess we're not very adventurous.

Resources:

http://www.freedonequipment.com/index.php

http://pelletstoveguide.net/how-to-make-wood-pellets-at-home/http://pelletstoveguide.net/